updated 01:45 pm EDT, Thu July 31, 2014

BBM for Windows Phone includes chats, excludes BBM Voice, Channels

BlackBerry has made its BlackBerry Messenger app available to download in the Windows Phone store. Previously only available as a closed beta on the platform, and already out on iOS and Android, the version offered is still in beta, though BlackBerry has taken the time to make BBM fit in with the Windows Phone user interface styling, and some features don't appear to have been included.

BBM Chats, Groups, and Feeds all make the transition to Windows Phone, reportsCNET, with users able to conduct group chats with up to 50 members, invite friends to the service, and pin the app to the Start Screen of the phone. Missing functions including BBM Voice, BBM Channels, location sharing, and stickers will apparently make an appearance in future months.

The choice to use the Windows Phone UI style in the app instead of BlackBerry's existing design language hints at future changes to both the iOS and Android versions. Speaking toN4BB on Tuesday, BlackBerry President John Sims advised that, while the previous management would prefer for the cross-platform app to have a homogenous appearance, BBM for each platform "needs to be more of a native app experience. You can expect to see that manifest itself in our Android and iPhone BBM apps." A timeframe for these visual upgrades was not advised.